McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Acquired by Howe & Rusling Inc.

Howe & Rusling Inc. increased its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 9.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 41,436 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,688 shares during the quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $12,592,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCD. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,780,712,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in McDonald’s by 29,382.3% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,737,548 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,676,339,000 after purchasing an additional 5,718,087 shares during the last quarter. Soundwatch Capital LLC acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,412,069,000. Viking Global Investors LP grew its position in McDonald’s by 171.7% in the 2nd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 3,125,432 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $913,157,000 after purchasing an additional 1,974,998 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi grew its position in McDonald’s by 96.0% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 4,032,676 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,188,147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,974,751 shares during the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of MCD stock opened at $323.28 on Thursday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52-week low of $283.47 and a 52-week high of $326.95. The stock has a market cap of $230.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.58, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.52. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $310.43 and a 200-day moving average of $306.92.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.11). McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 280.89% and a net margin of 32.04%.The company had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.23 EPS. McDonald’s’s quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total transaction of $795,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at $2,005,760. The trade was a 28.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 3,195 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.82, for a total transaction of $977,094.90. Following the sale, the insider owned 6,088 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,861,832.16. This represents a 34.42% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 32,008 shares of company stock valued at $9,895,452. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on MCD. KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $322.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $350.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley set a $335.00 target price on McDonald’s in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded shares of McDonald’s to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $331.37.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

Here are the key news stories impacting McDonald’s this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.86 per share payable March 17, 2026 — a direct return of capital that supports income investors and signals confidence in cash flow. McDONALD’S ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
• Positive Sentiment: BTIG upgraded MCD to Buy, which can push momentum as funds and retail investors often follow upgrades. BTIG Research Upgrades McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) to Buy
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s global marketing push — widely covered stories about free “McNugget Caviar” kits and Valentine’s Day promotions — is creating brand buzz and foot-traffic experiments that can lift short-term comps and social engagement. McDonald’s is giving away free McNugget Caviar kits for Valentine’s Day. How to get yours
• Positive Sentiment: Loek Beckers named CFO of McDonald’s USA — an important leadership hire for U.S. operations that can support execution on cost and growth initiatives. Loek Beckers named CFO of McDonald’s USA
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s said it is scaling back soda fountains and hinted at larger format/technology changes — could reduce costs and drive modernization, but execution and capital requirements are uncertain. McDonald’s is scaling back soda fountains – and it hints at a larger change ahead
• Neutral Sentiment: Company reminders and calendar items: the firm flagged investor resources and the upcoming quarterly earnings release — investors will focus on the report for guidance and same-store sales color. McDonald’s (MCD) to Release Quarterly Earnings on Wednesday
• Negative Sentiment: A Zacks preview argued McDonald’s may not have the right setup for an earnings beat, highlighting uncertainty around near-term margin/traffic drivers — a reminder that growth expectations may be tempered. McDonald’s (MCD) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafé coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonald’s serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships.

Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brand’s national and international expansion.